Things that married people do...

We cook....err...Or at least proceed to tell each other how to cook.

Last week, I decided that I would cook "American" spaghetti for Sidnei's family. I guess I should really just call it, my spaghetti, I suppose spaghetti in itself is not that American. But here in Brazil...at least from what I've had, the spaghetti isn't quite done the same. It has a very tiny bit of sauce and is served as a side, rather than the main course, with rice, and some sort of meat.

So we took the recipe my Dad gave me and did a little more of a spicy spin off! We had to improvise a little because we don't have access to all the ingredients we had at home, but everything worked out perfect! We had a lot of fun telling each other what to do and made quite the mess! I think we spent more time washing dishes than actually cooking! The results turned out fantastic and I think we'll have to do it again soon!

Happy 4th of July!

My patriotism is something that has run strong within me since I was a child. I owe learning my patriotic songs by heart to my first grade teacher, Mrs. Copley. She was probably the most strict teacher I've ever had, but we learned a lot from her. And patriotism was one of them. Every morning we sang the national anthem, My Country 'Tis of Thee, This Land is Your Land,and a few others.

I have fond memories of going on base to the movie theater, and standing before every show with my hand over my heart, singing the national anthem. The same with going to the Richmond Brave games. Standing every day before the official school day started and saying the pledge of allegiance. I have always loved learning American History and more particularly about the individuals that made history for our country.

Fourth of July has always been such a fun day. Growing up, we had block parties, or we grilled out with the neighbors, went to the pool, and we would go to Meherrin to watch the fireworks at the old drive in theater, or the side of the road, wherever you could find a place! There were sparklers and late nights. Running around with the neighborhood friends relishing the fact that we were out late. Sticky, watermelon hands...and truthfully not much has changed. I grew up, but we did the same things on the fourth, though sometimes the scenery was different.

All of these great memories that instilled my patriotism, could have never prepared me for the immense pride I would have as an American living outside the United States. My heart is swollen with the love I have of a country that has given me so much and provided so many opportunities.

Today, I find myself a little homesick, wishing I was celebrating with my family and friends. Today, I find myself, hoping that one day, together, Sidnei and I will have the opportunity to return and live in the United States. Because no matter how well I adjust to living here in Brazil and no matter how much I love it here...I'll always long for a warm summer night on a wrap around porch, watching 24 hours of A Christmas Story wishing for a white Christmas, and 4th of July with the smell of the grill, sparklers, and sticky watermelon hands.

OH, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

They love me, they really love me!

Monday, I woke up. It was not a happy Monday morning..and not the usual Monday blues. Nope. I was itching. ALL OVER. Seems during the night, I had gotten hot. So I took the covers off. Which resulted in the blood suckers (and I am not talking about the good kind) hunted my scent down and devoured me. My arms, my legs, my stomach, I am covered in mosquito bites. And I happen to be highly allergic to them so I itch like a mad woman. For weeks.

Through his laughter, my husband said I needed to wear repellent. To which my reply was that I do. Every day. I spray myself with it quite often. When I get up. After I shower. After I eat lunch. Before dinner. Before I go to bed. I am a little worried that it's too much and that I myself will start to be toxic...ANYWAY, after he was finished laughing because I was miserable, itchy, and on the verge of tears , he felt sorry for me.

Because this isn't even the worst of it:

So before my window looked like this:

And when Sidnei came home after work, this is what he did:

And now my window looks like this:

And now this is the picture of a happy girl:


Because now she doesn't worry mosquitos will eat her or that she will eat a spider and she can be cover free!

Battle Scars

I am not beginning to bear my Brazilian Battle scars. The first one being my back. I have had significant back trouble since being here. I think this comes from a couple of different things...#1 I had back surgery when I was sixteen due to three herniated discs (what can I say, I was a rough and tumble kid...), #2 Before coming to Brazil, I slept on different beds, sofas, and planes #3 Sidnei bought me an orthopedic bed which is a little on the hard side, #4 the people of Brazil do not believe in cushions. Aside from sofas, all the chairs are hard. HARD. Even in church, the pews are straight wood. Those really kill me. So basically I walk like this: \ instead of walking like straight like a normal person.

My next battle scars are big red blotches all over my pasty white legs. These my friends are quite attractive. In fact my southern friends may be experiencing them as well. Mosquitos. They liked me in the states, but they LOVE me in Brazil. Generally in the states I just dealt with them in the evenings, but here my friends, they are available for sucking my blood 24 hours a day. And they don't just stick to my legs, though that's what they prefer. Nope they also like my arms, even the top of my ear!

My poor hands...my poor hands are battle scar #3. They have little red lines, blisters, all over. All because I was spoiled and had a dryer in the US. I have maybe picked up an iron all of two times before coming here to Brazil. When I arrived, all my clothes were wrinkled and hanging them up inside the guardaropa did them no help. So I had to pull out the iron. I ironed my little heart out for two days straight. I have the battle scars to prove it! And sadly enough, so do my clothes. It is not easy being a first time iron-er.

I can't wait to start cooking with a gas stove for the first time!
Har-dee har har

How long have I been here again?

Time just seems to be passing me by...one day quickly fades into another and I find it hard to keep up! I realized today that this week will mark a month for me in Brazil! A MONTH. How did that happen? Have I really been away for a month? Have I really been with Sidnei for a month? It's just hard to believe that time truly passes by this fast!

So what have we been doing for a month??

We bought a bed!:


And then we realized our clothes couldn't stay like this forever:


So we bought a guarda roupa! What is a guarda roupa? For those who are not familiar (like myself) they don't necessarily build closets here with the houses, so you buy a guarda roupa, which is a closet in a really big dresser form. Not the greatest picture, but here it is being built:


And finished: (and yes, it is quite shiny,but I'll put up a better picture later!)


Aside from those fun things, we have had to go and take our marriage certificate to be translated and then sent to the judge to be officially recognized here in Brazil. Who knows how long that will take.

Also we have been running around to MANY government and public offices trying to get all of Sidnei's documents straight since he has not used them in a long time. Here if you don't vote and your CPF is not active them everything is basically frozen. And you need your CPF to do basically everything. But now we seem to have everything taken care of, I hope!

The language seems to be coming along. I am happy with being able to understand as much as I do and frustrated that I can't understand much of what is said! My vocabulary is building everyday and I know that all this gibberish I hear around me will one day turn into actual words! And will actually have meaning behind it! I am definitely excited for that!

My Brazilian family is wonderful! They are so good to me and want very much to help me adjust to life as best as possible! And they talk to me...whether I understand or not. Which I am grateful for!! Though they do try to help me as much as possible and we seem to communicate well despite our obstacles!

Anyway to make a long post longer....things are good here!

Now if only I could make the electrical shower head give me hotter water....I'd be set!

The Good Things

Right now, I am watching my husband sleep. And all I can think, foreign country or not, life just doesnt get better than this. It's the little things that I have missed so much...things I didnt even realize I was missing...And the big things too... Waking up and knowning he is there, having him beside me in church, the hugs, having someone to take care of you when you are sick or hurt...holding hands. The way he smells. The way he smiles when he's teasing me... Life with Sidnei is good and we are so very happy.

I wanted to tell you that I am alive. We have been trying to take care of so many things, but I promise to be back to regular posting soon. This week if I can help it! But here are some pictures of us from the past couple of weeks! I will post more on life here soon!

Disconnected!

I dont have much time, but wanted to write a quick post!

Everything here is going great! I am having a wonderful time being back with Sidnei! It feels like we never skipped a beat! We have been busy with the paperwork it takes to make things work..for myself and Sidnei since all of his papers are inactive since he´s been gone for so long!

We have also been furniture shopping! Who knew I was such a pain! But we finally found what we needed and I will post pictures later!

We are working on getting the internet up, but for now I am at a family member´s house! I should be connected sometime next week!! I promise I will post more then, give you my impressions!

There is definitely a good amount of culture shock, but things are much better. I am not stressed out and I am enjoying a slower pace of life...and sleeping in!

Much love to you all, thank you for all of your comments and checking in on me!!

I will be excited to catch up and see what is going on! I am SO far behind!

Til next week!